The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment and injunction to recover $72,000 in back wages and damages for 20 workers from Oklahoma. These workers, employed by Robert K. Cook, III, who operates Rob's Sod Inc. and Cook's Farmland Enterprises LLC under the names Green Acre Sod Farm, Green Acre Sod & Landscape Center, and Enterprise Sod and Landscape Center, were not paid overtime despite regularly working more than 40 hours a week.
The ruling was issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma on October 18, 2024. It follows an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division which found that the employer had incorrectly applied an agricultural exemption to retail workers.
Michael Speer, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Oklahoma City stated, “Employers must understand the federal standards that apply to their businesses and ensure workers receive pay as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act.” He further added that "the Wage and Hour Division is determined to hold employers accountable when they fail to meet their legal obligations to pay employees fully for their work."
Green Acre Sod Farm operates across multiple states with substantial acreage: 10,000 acres in Bixby and Haskell, Oklahoma; 6,000 acres at Red River in Texas; and 2,000 acres in Mount Vernon, Missouri. The company also has ten retail stores located in Oklahoma and Missouri.
For more information about the Wage and Hour Division or if you believe you are owed back wages collected by them, both workers and employers can reach out through their toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Calls are confidential with assistance available in over 200 languages.
Additionally, a new timesheet app from the agency is now available for iOS and Android devices in English and Spanish to help ensure accurate tracking of hours worked.
